
LODISIANA HISTORICAL SOCl 



IN( OKPORATED, JANUARY lOTlI, lb60. 






BATON ROUCtE: 

C1M>)> 11 lllV i;AZKTTV IM> COMKTMKVM BOOK \ M' . 

1860. 



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jBY-LA-W^S 



OF THE 



"INiHISTORm SOC 



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INCORPOMTED, JANUARY 16TH, 1860. 



BATON ROUGE: 

rnixTr.D at the gazette and comet steam book and job ofi'i 



1S60. 






-A.N A.CT 

INCORPORATE THE LOUISIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



't enacted ly the Senate and House of Bepresentatives of the State < 
ma, in General Assemlly convened. That J. J. Burk, D. D. Aver^ 
Adams, F. D. Conrad, Thos. J. Buffington, J. M. Williams, J. W 
iir, r. M. Kent, George Graj Skipwith, Thomas Castleton, A. TV 
lenry Droz, and John H. New, of the Parish of East Baton Eouge 
.3 Gayarre, J, L. Eiddell, J. S. Copes, and John N. Carrigan, of Not 

...s; H. W. Allen, B. W. Clark, and II. J. Hyams, of West Batoi 

; David A. Eandall, of Ascension ; W. W. Pugh, of Assumption 

Roman, of St. James; Richard Taylor, of St. Charles; J, El 

ison, of Plaquemines ; F. A. F. Harper, of Franklin ; Ed. Barry, o 

• ell ; J. G. Taliaferro, of Catahoula ; A. L. Tucker, of St. Mary ; Ili 
)s, of DeSoto ; J. L. Sterling, of West Feliciana ; F. L. Claiborne, 0( 
Coupee, and such others as may hereafter be legally chosen, shall be 
e hereby constituted a body corporate and politic, to be known ano 
by the name of the " Looisiana IIistobical Society." 
ION 2. Se it further enacted, etc., That the object of this Society shal, 
collecting and preserving of facts, documents, records and memorial: 
g to the natural, aboriginal and civil history of the State, and that 
better preservation of the same, a room shall be granted for the usf- 
. society, in the State Capitol. 

3. He it further enacted, dc, That the domicil of said society shall be 
City of Baton Rouge. It may have a corporate seal, which may be 

or changed at pleasure ; may sue and be sued, may take and hole 
personal estate, whether by gift, grant or devise, and, generally, ma> 
md enjoy all the rights and privileges to which similar institutions 
' law entitled; all notices and citations shall be served upon the 
ng oflicers of said society. 

4. Jie it further enacted, d-c, That any five of the persons named in 
Jt section of this act, may constitute a quorum for the organization ol 
;iety, and shall have power to adopt a constitution and by-laws, for 
itimate transaction of the business of the same. 

5. JJe it ,fuit7,,er onacUd, <£-., That, iu the event of a dissolution of 
ciety, all books, maps, records, manuscripts and collections, shall 
to the State, for the use of the State Library. 

G. Be it further enacted, &c.. That branches of the State Society may 
led in any parish of the State. 

W. W. PUGH, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

WM. F. GRIFFIN, 

, ^ President pro tem. of the Senate, 

•ovcd January IGth, 1860. 

ROBERT C. WICKLIFFE, 

Governor of the State of Louisiana. 



le copy. 

Pjiiny D. Hardy, 
* •< .' flSeoVeta/j; oT^S6ite.< 



ODfficers of tl)c Society, 18 



PRESIDENT, 

CHARLES GAYARRE, 

FIEST VICE-PKESIDENT, 

H. W. ALLEN. 

SECOND VICE-PEESIDENT, 

D. D. AVERY. 

OOEKESPONDrNQ SECEETABT, 

A. W. BELL, 

FOREIGN COBEESPONDING SECEETAEY AND CUEATC 

J. N. CARRIGAN. 

BECOEDING SECEETAEY, 

GEORGE A. PIKE, 

TEEASUEEE, 

F. M. KENT. 



Kxecutlvc Committee: 

JOHN H. NEW. 

H. J. HYAMS. 

E. GUION. 



A-DDRESS 



OF THE 



ANA HISTORICAL SOCIET 



lied, a committee on behalf of the Historical Society, < 
,na, beg leave to lay before their fellow-citizens the o 
n it3 organization, and the means proposed . 
t. 

id as nnneoessnry to dwell upon the importance of ni 
arposes are to gather and preserve materials forHisto 
mlarge upon the benefits derived from History ' ^If; 
ing year removes us another step from the pc j~' o 
ur State, it becomes desirable, if we would ob 
irrences of that time, to begin, now, the labor < 
hose incidents, whose narration may shed the 
h. Wo therefore solicit from the citizens of th 
n kindred societies in the United States and L" 
iscripts and documents, civil, military and socii.i 
id volumes, of whatever kind, bearing directly or indii 
listory. 

veys, charts, charters, deeds, notarial acts, conveyaucf s 
iging to the early settlers. 

3ns of landmarks, mounds, Indian relics, curiosities, etc 
} of families, running back into the territorial times 0^- 
Qifh occupation. 

)hical facts, fossils, minerals, and rare or curious proi- 
vegetable or mineral kingdom, accomi anied by auth< ' 
r discovery, or other reliable data con eeiaing them, 
of every kind that throw light upon the progress o.^ ■ 
lievements of our people in arts, science, or literatur, 
the act incorporating the Historical Society, its lib; oH • 
event the Association should dissolve, become the yi > i 
Louisiana. 

e would earnestly urge the claims of this Society e • ' 
y-citizens. 

3W — that of rescuing from oblivion, deeds worthy jt : i 
y the early settlers of the State— presents a noble ■•:: <• 
,nd we can conceive no better guide for our future, ii h 
irived from the perusal of philosophy, teaching by < > . 

JOHN H. NEW, ) 

H. J. HYAMS, J- Committee on a ,;,ii ^ 

J. N. CAKKIGAN, 



BY-LAWS 



NAME. 

name of this Society shall be the "Louisiana 
:'AL Society." 



OBJECT. 

le object of the Society is to discover, procure, and 
T^hatever may relate to the natural, civil, literary 
esiastical listory of the United States in general, 
he State of Louisiana in particular. 

MEMEEES. 

'he Society shall consist of Resident, Corresponding 
lorary Members. Resident Members shall be per- 
iding in the City of Baton Rouge, or its imme- 
icinity, within this State. Corresponding and 
•y Members shall be persons residing elsewhere ; 
more than twelve Honorary Members shall be 
n any one year. Resident Members, upon removing 
is City or its immediate vicinity, and, on giving 
hereof to the Recording Secretary, shall thereafter 



BY-LAWS OP THE 



be Corresponding Members, and, in like mannei 
ponding members, upon coming to reside in this C 
immediate vicinity, shall cease to be Correspond!; 
bers ; and, upon giving a like notice, shall ther 
Resident Members. 

IV. Members shall be elected as follows : The c 
shall be proposed at any meeting of the Socie 
member thereof, and until otherwise ordered, a 
shall elect. 

ANNUAL FEES AND DUES. 

Y. Each Member, Honorary Members excepted, i 
on admission, an initiation fee of five dollars, 
dollars annually as dues, invariably in advance, 
any member fail to pay the said annual fees and 
two years successively, or at any time refuse to 
same, the Executive Committee shall have powei 
his name from the list of members, and he shall i 
be a member of this Society ; but, upon payme: 
arrearages, he may be reinstated by applicatior 
Executive Committee. 

OFFICERS. }) 

VI. The officers of the Society shall be — 
A President, 
A First Vice-President, 
A Second Vtce-Peksident, 
A Foreign Corresponding Secretary, 
A Domestic Corresponding Secretary, 
A Recording Secretary, 
A Treasurer, and 
A Curator. 



LOUISIANA IIISTOmCAL SOCIETY. 



They shall be elected annually on the second Monday of 
February, and shall hold their offices respectively for one 
year, and until others sliall be chosen in their places. They 
shall be chosen viva voce, and a majority of votes thus 
given shall elect. 

VACANCY. 

VII. If a vacancy shall happen in any of the offices of 
the Society, it may be filled by a special election at a regular 
meeting of the Society ; and the person so elected to fill 
the vacancy, shall hold his office for the unexpired term of 
his immediate predecessor in office, and until another is 
elected in his place. 

MEETINGS OP THE SOCIETY. 

VIII. The Society shall meet regularly, for the transac- 
tion of business, at its rooms in the State Capitol, quarterly, 
on the second Monday of February, May, August and 
November ; but a special meeting may be called at any 
time, by the Executive Committee, upon the written request 
of five members, it being understood that no member of the 
Executive Committee shall be of the five calling for the 
special lueeting ; and all notices of meetings shall be 
published at least three times in the public newspapers, 
printed in the City of Baton Rouge. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS. 

IX. 1. The reading of the minutes of last i^eeti-ng, 

2. Reports and communications from Qffi,cers of the 
Society. 

3. Reports of the Executive and other Committees. 

4. Election of Members. 

5. Miscellaneous business. 

6. Papers read, and addresses delivered before the 
Society. 



BY-LAWS OF THE 



ANNIVERSARY. 

X. On the second Monday of February, in each year, 
being the anniversary of the founding of the Society, there 
shall be an address delivered before the Society, by the 
President or some other person, to be appointed for that 
purpose by the Executive Committee ; after which, there 
shall be an anniversary dinner. 

QUORUM. 

XI. At all meetings of the Society, five members shall 
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

PRESIDING OFFICER. 

XII. The President, or, in his absence, one of the Vice 
Presidents, or, in their absence, a Chairman pro tempore, 
shall preside at all meetings of the Society, and shall have 
a casting vote. He shall preserve order, and shall decide 
all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Society. 
He shall also appoint all Committees authorized by the 
Society, unless otherwise specially ordered. 

CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES. 

XIII. The Corresponding Secretaries shall conduct the 
general correspondence of the Society. They shall have 
the custody of all letters and communications to the Society, 
excepting papers read, and addresses delivered before the 
same, which shall be deposited in the library. They shall, 
at every meeting of the Society, read such letters and 
communications as they may have received ; they shall 
prepare all letters to be written in connection with the 
business or objects of the Society, and transmit the same ; 
but the Society may appoint a Committee to prepare a letter 
or letters, on any special occasion. They shall notify all 
members of their election, and of such other matters as 
they may see fit, or shall be directed by the Society ; and 
shall transmit to them their proper diplomas, or certificates 



LOUISIANA IllSTOllICAL SOCIETY, 



of membci'sliip. countcrsigued by the President and Execu- 
tive Committee. They shall keep, in suitable books, to be 
provided for that purpose, true copies of all letters written 
on behalf of the Society ; and shall carefully pre; erve the 
originals of all letters and communications received. 

The duties of the Foreign Corresponding Secretary shall 
be limited to the correspondence with individuals or asso- 
ciate bodies in foreign countries ; and those of the Domestic 
Corresponding Secretary shall, in like manner, be confined 
to the United States, except that, in the absence of either 
of these officers, or during a vacancy in either ofBce, 
its duties shall be performed by the remaining incumbent, 
until such absence shall terminate, or the vacancy be 
supplied. 

RECORDING SECRETARY. 

XIV. The Recording Secretary shall have custody of 
the Seal, Charter, By-Laws, and Eecords of the Society. 
He shall, under the direction of the President, or either of 
Hie Vice-Presidents, give due notice of the time and place 
of all meetings of the Society, and attend the same. He 
shall keep fair and accurate records of all proceedings 
and orders of the Society ; and shall give notice to the 
several officers, and to the Executive and other Committees, 
of all votes, orders, resolves, and proceedings of the Society, 
affecting them, or appertaining to their respective duties. 

TREASURER. 

XY. The Treasurer shall collect and keep the funds and 
securities of the Society. Out of these funds, he shall pay 
Rucli sums as may be ordered by the Society, or by the 
Executive Committee. He shall keep a true account of his 
receipts and payments ; and, at each annual meeting, render 
the same to the Society, when a committee shall be appointed 
to audit his accounts. 



10 BY-LAWS OP THE 



XVI. If, from the Annual Report of the Treasurer, there 
shall appear to be a balance against the Treasury, no i 
appropriation of money shall be made for any object but ' 
the necessary current expenses of the Society, until such 
balance shall be paid. 

CURATOR. 

XTII. The Curator, in connection with the Executive 
Committee, shall have the charge and superintendence of 
the rooms, and the custody and arrangement of the books, 
manuscripts, and other articles belonging to the Library 
and collections of the Society. He shall cause to be pre- 
pared and kept, a proper catalogue and list of the same. 
He shall acknowledge the receipt of donations to the Society 
in his department. He shall expend, in the purchase of 
books and other articles, and for their safe keeping and 
preservation, with the approbation of the said committee, 
such sums of money as shall, from time to time, be appro- 
priated for that purpose, and report thereon to the Society. 
He shall, at least once in each year, render his accounts for 
such purchases and expenditures, to the Treasurer for 
settlement, and shall further make to the Society, at each 
annual meeting, a full report on the condition and progress' 
of the Library and collections. He shall have power tO' 
employ, at a salary to be fixed by the Executive Committee,- 
an Assistant Curator, who shall be under his direction, and 
perform such duties as he may assign ; and who, during 
the hours at which the Library is open, shall be always 
present. 



LOUISIANA HISTOUICAL SOCIETY. 11 



LIBRARY REGULATIONS. 

XYIII. Tlie following shall be the regulations for the 
use of the Library : 

1. No book or manuscript shall, at any time, be lent to 
any person, to be removed from the Society's Rooms. 

2. No manuscript in the Library, nor any paper read 
. before the Society and deposited in its archives, shall 

be published, except by the direction of the Society, 
or with the consent of the Executive Committee. 

3. The hours during which the Library shall be open, 
shall be determined, from time to time, by the Execu- 
tive Committee. 

4. During such hours, any member of the Society may 
have free access to consult any book or manuscript, 
except such as may be designated by the Executive 
Committee, and to make extracts from the same under 
the authority of the Curator. Any person, not a 
member, may obtain the like privilege of consultation 
from the Executive Committee, if known to them ; 
but no person, not a member, shall be permitted to 
take extracts from the manuscripts of the Society, 
■excepting the donors or depositors of the same, with- 
out special authority from the Executive Committee. 

•5. It shall be the duty of the Curator, or his Assistant, 
to report to the Executive Committee any injury done 
to any book or manuscript by any person consulting 
the same ; and the said Committee may, at their dis- 
cretion, lay such reports before the Society. For any 
such injury, the person doing it, shall make such 
pecuniary compensation as the said Committee shall 
judge proper ; and if he be not a member, the Com- 
mittee shall have power, if they think fit, to prohibit 
him from further access to the Societv's Rooms. 



f r. 



VI CY-LAWS OF THE LOUISIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

XIX. It shall be tlie duty of the Executive Committee 
to solicit ajid receive donations for the Society ; to recom- 
mend plans for promoting its objects ; to digest and prepare 
business ; to authorize the disbursement and expenditure of 
unappropriated monies in the hands of the Treasurer ; for 
the payment of salaries, current expenses, fitting np the 
Library, the ordinary purchase of books, binding, printing, 
and other necessary outlays. 

They shall, in connection with the Curator, have charge 
of the arrangement and regulation of the collection and 
collections ; and shall have authority, at any time, to examine 
into the condition of the same, and into the state of the 
finances ; as also generally to superintend the interests of 
the Society, and execute all such duties as may, from time 
to time, be committed to them by the Society. At each 
annual meeting of the Society, they shall make a general 
report. 

ALTERATION OF BY-LAV/S. 

XX. No alteration in the By-Laws of the Society shall 
be made, unless such alteration shall have been openly pro- 
posed at a previous meeting, and entered on the minutes, 
with the name of the member proposing the same ; and 
shall be adopted by a majority of the members present at a 
regular moetino: of the Societv. 



LBJL'04 



i'3 



